Divisional feeder



Oct. 17, 1939. D. R. mus R 1,236.

DIVISIONAL FEEDER I Original Filed Jan. 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q 2 k 7 525i!!! EfiEEgE A Y Y 1 n 13. HQ. 4. 4 3 3] 11 '10 32 I 4 1; 1g 3 V 4A f2 25 28. 24 :12; 2 L] 29 E Z6 30 27 4 ig 55 4/; g

I '1 I8 I I INVENTOR. Dav-id R,H iZ Z is.

ATTORNEYS Qct. 17, 1939. I s Re. 21,236

DIVI S I ONAL FEEDER Original Filed Jan. 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5'. Fire. 7.

4 INVENTOR. 2275 David R. Hi2 Zz's,

4 4 BY z I v 33 I9 6 I6 34 ATTORNEYJ.

Reiuued a. 17, 1 939 I Re. 21,236

David a. mun, nan-ta.

assignments, to Trabon tion, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Klein, alslgnor, by memo Engineering (Hm!- Orlglnal No. 2,027,171, dated January 7, 1936i 8erial No. 708,353,

13 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a divisional feeder for a centralized lubricating system.

Prior to this invention, feeders were provided for use in either single line or dual line cenl tralized lubricating systems but were so designed as to require the lubricant; to enter the feeder through first one and then another port or they were so designed as to discharge the lubricant through the same discharge port to the bearing.

0 No feeder that I am aware of was so constructed that lubricant under pressure always entering the feeder through the same inlet port could be discharged alternately and automatically through a plurality of separate ports.

The main object of my invention is the provision of a feeder which will always receive lubricant through the same inlet port and will discharge it automatically and consecutively through one and then another of a plurality of 80 separate ports.

' A further object of my invention is the provision of a. divisional feeder which is simple and cheap to manufacture and is durable.

A further object of my invention is the pro 25 vision of means in such a feeder which will prevent the pistons from becoming inoperative due to stopping on dead center.

These and other objects auxiliary thereto will appear from the following description of. my

30 invention and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims; reference being had to.

the drawings in which:

Figure l is a sectional View of a feeder taken on line l--l of Fig. 2 showing two piston rods in their extreme left position.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line oi Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 ot-Fig. 4 showing the upper piston rod at the extreme right position and the lower one in its extreme left position.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line l4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line l--l of Fig. 2 showing both piston rods at their extreme right position.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 3-3 oi! Fig. 4

showing the upper piston at its extreme left position and the lower piston at its extreme right position.

Fig. '7 is a sketch of the standard type of feeder showing pipe connections for changing it into a two outlet feeder.

Fig. 8 is section taken on a plane through the to center of the two cylinders showing a modified January 26; 1934. for reissue August 20, 1938,

Application Serial N 0. 97,858

form or my invention by which a three outlet feeder may be provided.

In the drawings, the numeral I represents the body of the feeder which is suitably bored to form cylinders Z and 3 respectively, the ends of which 5 provide pump chambers and are closed with plugs 4 and 4a. The feeder is provided with an inlet port 5 opening into the central portion of the cylinder 3.

Each cylinder is provided with a'piston rod 19 having a plurality of pistons or piston valves, the piston rod in cylinder 2 being designated by the numeral 6 and the piston rod in cylinder 3 being designated by the numeral 1,.

The central portion of the piston rod 5 has an enlarged hub 9 with bevel edged grooves l0 and II on either side, all for a purpose hereinafter to be designated. Next to the grooves ill and H are the inner pistons l2 and I3. Located near the ends of piston rod 6 are the outer pistons 90 or pump plungers l4 and it which fit in the end pump chambers respectively of cylinder 2.

Similarly, piston rod I has an enlarged hub ll with bevel edged grooves l8 and IS on either side. Next to the grooves l8 and I9 are the inner pistons 20 and 2|. Located near the ends of piston rod 1 are the outer pistons or pump plungers 22 and 23 which fit in the end pump chambers respectively of cylinder 3.

The ends oi both piston rods 6 and l project beyond the outer pistons so as .to prevent the closing of the openings of the ducts in both ends of the cylinders 2 and 3.

From the ends or pump chambers of cylinder 2 are ducts 2d and 25 respectively connecting to intermediate sections of cylinder 3. Ducts 26 and 2'! lead respectively from the ends or pump chambers of cylinder 3 to intermediate sections of cylinder 2.

I provide a cylindrical passage 28 between cyllnders 2 and 3 in which is located a cylindrical stop or locking means 29 having beveled ends and with a small by-pass groove 30 along one side.

This stop member 29 acts in conjunction with the hubs 9 and I1 and the adjacent grooves of the respective piston rods in forming a governing device which prevents the piston rods from moving at-the same time, thereby avoiding failure of operation which might otherwise result if the fluid pressure should be discontinued while the piston rods were passing dead center.

The stop member is not intended to block the passage 28, but, on the contrary, it is to be made in any manner which will permit fluid to flow thestop member itself from one cylinder to the other, hence it may be pierced either through its center or on its side as shown, or it may be made in spider form but it must be of a length greater than that of the passageway 23, so that it may reach into the groove of a. piston in one cylinder while contacting the hub of the piston in the other cylinder, and vice versa.

My divisional feeder will operate without the stop member, but it is not as emcient, since the piston rods sometimes stop on dead center when the pressure pump or other power means stops, and when the power means is again started, the feeder will not operate until at least one plug is removed and a piston valve adjusted, unless as sometimes happens, a sudden jar displaces one piston valve from dead center.

Numerals 3|, 32, 33 and 34 indicate the four discharge ports, discharge port 31 being located in cylinder 2 in such a manner as to always communicate with that portion of the cylinder 2 which is between the pistons 13 and I3 regardless of their location, and the other discharge ports being located in similar relationship to the respective adjacent pistons.

Numeral 33 indicates holes used for mounting or fastening the feeder body to any convenient support.

In the case of Fig. 7, discharge ports 3| and 33 are connected together and 32 and 34 likewise,

- thereby making two discharge outlets 35 and 33.

Piping connections are. indicated here but suitable passages through the feederbody may be drilled or otherwise provided to connect dischar e ports 31 and 33 intoone outlet 35 and ports 32 and 34 intoone outlet 33.

.In Fig. 8, discharge ports 3| and 32 are con-. nected to form one outlet 31. This is here indicated with piping but passages may otherwise be provided through the feeder body.

Cylinder 3 of Fig. 8 is constructed with a cross sectional area equal to one-half that of cylinder 2. Thus the amount of lubricant discharged from the discharge ports 3| and 32 through the one outlet 31 is equal to the amount discharged from cylinder 2 by each of the discharge ports 33 and 34.

The operation of the standard divisional feeder as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive is as follows; Assuming that the feeder has been filled with lubricant and that the moving parts are located at the start of operation-as indicated in Fig. 1,

' lubricant under pressure enters inlet port 3 and passes into cylinder 3, around groove [3, across enlarged hub l1, around groove i3, through duct 25 into cylinder 2, and thereby forces piston rod 3 to move to the opposite end of the cylinder 2. This causes lubricant to be forced from cylinder 2, through duct 24 into cylinder 3, across piston rod 1, between pistons 23 and 22 and it is discharged through outlet port 34.- The amount of lubricant discharged is dependent upon the area of the piston 14 and the length of the stroke of piston rod 3, and the discharge stops when the piston rod contacts plug 40.

During the movement of piston rod 3 from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. '3, piston rod 1 has been held immovable against plug 4 of cylinder 3, due to the pressure of thelubricant in cylinder 3 being communicated through passage 33 of cylindrical stop 23 and around groove l3, across enlarged hub 3, around groove ll, through duct 23 into cylinder F 3. This holds piston rod I against its plug 4' and through passage 33 in cylindrical stop 23, into cylinder 2, around groove ll, across enlarged hub 3, around groove [3, through duct 21 into cylinder 3, thus forcing piston rod 1 to move to the opposite end of cylinder 3. This causes lu- 1 bricant to be forced from cylinder 3 through duct 23 into cylinder 2, across piston rod 3 and discharged through outlet port 3i.

During the movement of piston rod 1, piston rod 6 has been held immovable against plug 4:: m of cylinder 2, due to the pressure of the lubricant in cylinder 3, which is communicated through duct 25 into cylinder 2. This holdsvpiston rod 3 against plug 4a until piston rod 1 reaches the end of its stroke, as does also the stop 23 which 35 is seated by hub il in the groove i l during movement of piston 1.

All parts are now in the position shown in Fig.

5. ,The lubricant entering through inlet port 5 passes intocylinder 3 around groove i9, across 30 enlarged hub 11, around groove l8, through duct 24 into cylinder 2 and thereby forces piston rod 3 to move to the opposite end of cylinder 2. This causes lubricant to be forced from cylinder 2 through duct 25 into cylinder 3, across piston rod 1, between pistons 2| and 23 and to be discharged through outlet port 33.

During the movement of piston rod 6, piston rod 1 has been held immovable against plug 4a of cylinder3 due to the pressure of the lubricantv 4p in cylinder 3 being communicated through pas-' sage 33 of cylindrical stop 23 and around groove ll, across enlarged hub 3, around groove 13, through duct 21 into cylinder 3. Stop 23, which has one end urged into piston groove I3 by hub 45 3 of piston 3, also acts to hold piston rod 1 against plug 4a until piston rod 3 reaches the end of its stroke.

All parts are now located as shown in Fig. 6. The lubricant, entering through inlet port 5, 5

' passes into, cylinder 3, around groove l3, through of cylinder 2, due to the pressure of the lubricant in cylinder 3 which is communicated through duct 24 into cylinder 2. Stop 23, which has one end urged into piston groove 13 by hub I1 dur- 5 ing movement of piston 1, also acts to hold piston rod 3 against plug 4 until piston red 1 reaches the end of its stroke when its end butts up against plug 4.

All parts are now located as shown in Fig. l.

, The divisional feeder is now ready to repeat the cycle of operations above describedas many times as may be desired and dependent only upon the continued supply of lubricant under' suitable pressure to the inlet port 5. The function of 1 grooves Ill and II and enlarged hub 8, of piston the cylindrical stop "in conjunction with the rodi and with the grooves II and I9 and the enlarged hub H, of piston rod 1, is to prevent either one of the piston rods 8 or I, when once in motion, from stopping except for failure of pressure fluid, before reaching the end of its stroke. In case one of the piston rods should stop in the middle of its stroke due to the interruption of the supply of lubricant under pressure, the cylindrical stop 29 will prevent the other piston from'moving, when the supply of lubricant is renewed, until the first piston has completed its stroke.

Having thus fully described my. invention, it is understood that I do not limit myself to the embodiment shown.

I claim:

1. Liquid dividing means comprising a casing having a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlet passages, a pair of cylinders, ports therein and passages interconnecting said cylinder ports and said inlet and outlet passages, and a reciprocatory piston in each cylinder actuated by the incoming fluid at one end of the cyilnder and ejecting a measured quantity of fluid from the opposite end of the cylinder through a cylinder port and an interconnecting passage into the other cylinder, said pistons being alternately actuated, each piston when stationary constituting a valve cooperating with said ports and passages to control and direct both the admission and ejection of fluid to and from the other cylinder and causing the fluid received from the opposite end of one cylinder to be directly discharged out of an associated casing outlet passage under the inlet pressure.

2. Liquid dividing means comprising a casing having fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlet passages, a plurality of cylinders, ports therein and passages interconnecting said cylinder ports and said inlet and outlet passages, said ports and passages being so arranged that each end of one cylinder connects to a portion of the other cylinder that communicates with a casing outlet passage, a double-acting reciprocatory piston in each cylinder having a predetermined displacement therein, said piston being actuated by the incoming fluid at one end of said cylinder to eject an accurately measured quantity of fluid from the ,opposite end thereof and through an interconnecting passage to the other cylinder and out of one of the outlet passages under the inlet pressure, and a portion of said piston intermediate its ends constituting a valve, said pistons being alternately actuated, and the valve portion of the piston at rest controlling and directing both the admission and ejection of fluid by the piston in another cylinder.

' 3. Liquid dividing means comprising a pair of cylinders, a reciprocating piston in each cylinder having end portions forming chambers with end portions of the cylinder and having the portion thereof intermediate its ends constituting a valve part, said cylinders each having a valve portion cooperating with its respective piston valve part .toprovide a fluid flow controlling valve, said cylinders each having fluid passageways connecting the chambers at its opposite ends with the valve portion of the other cylinder, an inlet passageway communicable with the valve portion of each cylinder, and a pair of outlet passageways connecting with the valve portion of each cylinder, said outlet passageways being so constructed and arranged with respect to said valve parts as to be alternately connected by the valve part in one cylinder with the passageways from the chambers at the opposite ends of the other cylinder upon reciprocation of the piston in the said one cylinder.

4. Liquid dividing means comprising a pair of cylinders, a reciprocating piston in each cylinder having its opposite ends operating as displacement means and the portion intermediate its ends constituting in connection with ports in the cylinder a valve, each cylinder having an inlet passage in communication with the valve portion thereof, a pair of'outlet passages also connecting with the valve portion of each cylinder and passages connecting the chambers at opposite ends of each cylinder with the valve portion of the'other cylinder, said ports and passages being relatively arranged to establish communication between the inlet passage and one end ofone cylinder and simultaneously a connection between the opposite end of the same cylinder and one of the outlet passages from the other cylinder and upon the reciprocation of the piston in the said one cylinder to establish communication between the inlet passage and one end of the opposite cylinder through the valve portion of the said one cylinder.

5. Liquid dividing, means comprising a pair of cylinders, a piston in each cylinder having its opposite ends operating determinedly as driving or as displacement means and having its intermediate portlon constituting a valve in conjunc-. tion with the intermediate portion of its cylinder, each of said cylinders having its opposite ends communicatively connecting with the intermediate portion of the other cylinder, a pair of outlet passageways leading from the intermediate portion of each cylinder, and an inlet passageway communicable with each intermediate cylinder portion, said ports and passageways being relatively arranged to connect said inlet passageway to one end of one cylinder and to connect the opposite end of said one cylinder to one of the outlet passageways when the piston in the other of said cylinders is stationary, and the piston in the said one cylinder being effective upon its reciprocation and upon becoming stationary to connect said inlet passageway with one end of the other cylinder and the opposite end of said other cylinder to another of said outlet passageways.

6. Liquid dividing means comprising a pair of like cylinders and reciprocatory pistons therein, each piston having its opposite ends operating as displacement means and the portion inter-,- mediate its ends constituting a valve, said cylinders being provided with ports and passages including an inlet and a pair of outlets communicating with the valve portion of each cylinder, and

passages connecting the opposite end chambers of each cylinder with the valve portion of the other cylinder, said ports and passages being relatively arranged to establish in cooperation with said valve portions connections causing operations in the following sequence, first, connection is established through the valve portion of chamber of cylinder 2 and the second outlet of h cylinder I: fourth, after movement 01' the piston in cylinder 2 to establish communicationthrough thevalveportionthereotbetweentheinletand the second end chamber 0! cylinder l and simultaneously communication between the first end chamber of cylinder I andtheseccnd outlet of cylinder 2, thereby completing the cycle.

7. A i'eeder ior dividing and distributing fluids comprising a body-member havi a pair of cylinders formed therein, a central e connecting said'cylinders intermediate their ends; an inletport in oneoi'saidcylinders, twodischarge ports in each cylinder. one on each side of said central passage, two pairs of passages connecting the said cylinders, each of said last named passagesleadingiromoneendofonecylindertoa point adjacent the entrance of the central passage in the other cylinder and between said centrale andadischargcport, the respective pointsoientry ofthefirstpairofpassages Irom' first cylinder extending beyond the opening otthe centralpassageinthesecond cylinder, and the respective points 01' entry of the second pair of es from the ends of the second cylinder being on the respective sides at the opening of the central e therein nearest the end of the cylinder trcm which they lead, a reciprocating piston rod in each cylinder, and a plurality of spaced-apart piston-type valve on eachpistonrodthespacingctsaidvalveson each rod controlling the fiow o1 fiuid through the feeder, permitting entering one of said cylinders through the inlet porttofiowintotheothercylinderthmu the central passage andtopassintothefirst cylinder,

alternately through the first pair of pea to one end of the first cylinder, while the other of the first pair of passages is in communication with a discharge port in the second cylinder, the pistontypevalvosonthepistonrodinthefirst cylinder alternately establishing communication between the inlet and second pair of passages at respective ends of the stroke of said piston rod and simultaneously e 1 communication between a dischar e port in the first cylinder and the other of the second pair of passages, each of the passages of saidflrst-andsecondpairacting at one time as an inlet port to a cylinder end permitting'fiuid to shift the Piston rod in its respective cylinder to the opposite end and to hold it there until the piston in the other cylinder shiits and, onthe return stroke oi the flstom'acting as a discharge e ior'the fiuid in front oftheplstonroddischargingthefiuidtoadischarge port in the other cylinder.

8. A feeder for dividing and distributing fiuids comprising a body-member having a pair of cylinders formed therein, a central e connecting said cylinders intermediate their ends, an inlet port in one of said cylinders, two discharge ports in each cylinder, one on each side of said central passage, twopairs of passages connecting the said cylinders, each of said last named es leading from one end 0! one cylinder to a point adjacent the entrance of the central e in the other cylinder and betweensaidcentralpaasageandadischargeport,

fiow of fluid under presure a1,ase

preisure entering one or said cylinders through the inlet port to fiovi into the other cylinder throughthecentralgeandtopassintothe first cylinder, alternately through the first pair oi 1 to one end of the first cylinder, while theotheroithefirstpah-oi'esisincommunication with a discharge port in the second cylinder, the piston type valves on the piston rod in the first cylinder alternatelyestablishing communication between the inlet and second pair oi! es at respective ends of the stroke of said piston rod and simultaneously establishing communication between a discharge port in the first. cylinder and the other of the second pair of es, each oi the es of said first and secondpairactingatonetimeasaninletport to a cylinder end permitflng fiuid to shift the piston rod in its respective cylinder to the opposite end andto hold it there until the piston in the other cylindershii'tsamonthereturnstroke of the piston,acting as a discharge passage for the fiuidintrontoithepistonrodthe fluid to a discharge port in the other cylinder, and means for preventing movement of both piston rods at the same time.

9. A feeder for dividing and distributing fiuids comprisingaa body-member having a pair of cylinders formed therein, a central e connecting said cylinders intermediate their ends, an inlet'port in one of said cylinders, two discharge ports in each cylinder, one on each side of said central ptwopairsoi' es connecting the said cylinders, each oi said last u: leading from one end oi one cylinder to a pointadjacent the entrance of the in the other cylinder and betweensaid central 1 andadischargeport, therespectivepointso entryofthefirstpairof passages from the ends of the first cylinder extending beyond the opening of the central passage in the second cylinder, and the respective points of entry of. the second pair of passages from the ends of the second cylinder being on the respective sides of the opening of the central e therein nearest the end 0! the cylinder from which they lead, a reciprocating piston rod in each cylinder, four substantially equally spaced-apart piston-type valves on each piston rod, the spacing oi' said valves on each rod controlling the fiow oi fluid through the feeder, D rmitting fiow of fluid under pressure entering one of the cylinders through the inlet port to now into the other cylinder through the central and to pass into thefirst cylinder, alternately through the first pair oi es to one end oi the first cylinder, while the other of the first pair of es is in communication with a discharge port in the second cylinder, the piston typevalves on the piston rod in the first cylinder alternately establishing communication between the inlet and second pair of passages at respective ends 01' the stroke of said piston rod and simultaneously establishing communication between a discharge port in the first cylinder and the other of the second pair of passages, each of the passages of said first and second pair acting at one time as an inlet port toa cylinder end permitting fluid to shift the piston rod in its respective cylinder to the opposite end and to hold it there until the piston in the other cylinder shifts and, on the return stroke of the piston, acting as a discharge passage for the fluid in front of the piston rod discharging the fluid to a discharge port in the other cylinder, an enlarged hub at the center of each piston rod, two circumferential grooves on each piston rod, one on each side of said hubs, and a member mounted to reciprocate in said central passage with-v out stopping flow of fluid therethrough and having a length suflicient to prevent movement of both of said piston rods at the same time.

10. Liquid dividing means comprising a casing I having a fluid inlet and a plurality of fluid outlet passages, a plurality of cylinders, a .port in each end of each cylinder alternately serving as an inlet port and an outlet port, said ports communicating by passageways with said inlet and having passageway communication respectively with said outlet passages, one port with one outlet passage, a reciprocatory piston in each cylinder, each piston being actuated by fluid entering either of its cylinder end ports to eject fluid from the other or its cylinder end ports, said pistons being alternately actuated and each constituting when at rest a valve for controlling the admission and discharge of fluid in another cylinder, and means between said pistons for interlocking with and holding stationary one of the pistons during the movement or another piston.

11. In a liquid dividing means, a body having two pairs of pump chambers, a plunger in each chamber, said plungers being interconnected in by said plungers and acting to hold one pair of plungers against movement during movement of the other pair of plungers.

12. In a liquid dividing means, two pairs of aligned plunger-receiving cylinder portions, a

pumpplunger in eachcylinder portion and cooperable therewith to provide a liquid receiving and discharging chamber, means mechanically interconnecting the plungers of each pair of cylinder portions, conduit means for conveying liquid to and from each of said chambers, means cooperable with said conduit means and controlling the supply of liquid to and the discharge or liquid from each of said chambers, and mechanical means to lock the plungers in one pair of cylinder portions against movement during the movement of the plungers in the other pair of cylinder portions.

13. In a liquid dividing means, two pairs of pumps, each of said pumps having a cooperating plunger and cylinder portion providing a chamber, means connecting together the plungers of each pair of pumps so that said plungers are movable in pairs, each of said pumps having conduit means for supplying liquid to and discharging liquid irom its chambers, valve means for each of said pumps and governing said conduit means to control the supply to and the discharge of liquid from each of said chambers, said valve means being automatically operable in unison with said pumps, and mechanical locking means cooperable with and operable by said pumps to maintain sequential discharge from said chambers.

DAVID R. HILLIS. 

